Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia and the Singapore Sprint. Here is what Red Bull’s revival means for his Singapore GP chances and 2026 title hopes.
Max Verstappen’s 2026 season is finally showing signs of life. After enduring a frustrating campaign, the four-time world champion won the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on October 4 before securing victory in Saturday’s Singapore Sprint. Red Bull has now delivered results that suggest its early-season struggles may be easing, although Sunday’s Grand Prix will offer a better test of its race-winning potential.
Verstappen started the Singapore Sprint from pole position but lost the lead to George Russell at the start. Russell subsequently crashed, allowing Verstappen to regain first place. The Red Bull driver managed the changing track conditions to finish ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, earning eight championship points.
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Has Red Bull Finally Found Its Form?
The victory in Malaysia was significant beyond the result itself. It marked Red Bull’s first Grand Prix win of the 2026 season and the first victory for its new Red Bull-Ford Powertrains engine programme. Building its own power unit was a major challenge under the new 2026 regulations. Red Bull had to develop the engine alongside Ford while competing against established manufacturers such as Mercedes and Ferrari. Verstappen’s victory demonstrated that the project could deliver a winning package, although consistency remains the bigger test.
Singapore has now provided another positive sign. Verstappen secured Sprint pole and converted it into victory despite difficult weather conditions and a slow start. However, the Sprint’s chaotic opening lap, Russell’s crash and the changing grip levels influenced the result. Red Bull has reason to be encouraged, but one Grand Prix victory and one Sprint win do not automatically establish it as the fastest team.
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Can Max Verstappen Win the Singapore Grand Prix?
Verstappen has a genuine opportunity to challenge for Sunday’s race, but qualifying and the opening laps could determine how realistic that chance is. He finished sixth in Singapore’s only practice session, although he set his lap on medium tyres while several rivals completed their fastest runs on softs. The result therefore did not provide a straightforward comparison of each team’s ultimate pace. Verstappen subsequently demonstrated stronger one-lap speed by taking Sprint pole.
There is one problem Red Bull must address: the start. Verstappen described his launch in the Sprint as “horrendous” after Russell overtook him off the line. Losing positions at the start could be costly at Marina Bay, where overtaking can be difficult. Main-race qualifying is scheduled for Saturday evening, October 10, in Singapore, with the Grand Prix following on Sunday, October 11. The qualifying result will provide a clearer indication of Verstappen’s chances of converting the recent momentum into another major victory.
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Can Max Verstappen Still Challenge for the Championship?
Verstappen’s comeback has improved his position, but the title remains a difficult target. After the Malaysian Grand Prix, Verstappen had 188 points and sat sixth in the Drivers’ Championship. His eight points from the Singapore Sprint moved him to 196, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli added five points to reach 325. Verstappen is therefore still 129 points behind the Mercedes driver, with six Grands Prix and the Singapore Sprint now completed or remaining as part of the final seven-round stretch.
The deficit is substantial, and Verstappen needs more than occasional victories to mount a serious title challenge. He must continue scoring heavily while hoping Antonelli and the other frontrunners lose ground. For now, the bigger takeaway is Red Bull’s improving form. Verstappen has won a Grand Prix and the Singapore Sprint in successive race weekends, giving the team renewed confidence heading into the final stretch. The Singapore Grand Prix will be the real test of whether this revival can continue. Can Verstappen turn his Sprint victory into a second consecutive Grand Prix win, or will Mercedes and Ferrari have the pace to stop him?
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